This one just sold but that's the level of bike you should be getting for $150-$175.

That was my first "mountain bike" Exact same color scheme and everything. Paid $600 or $500 OTD, and rode that bike HARD for a number of years. I sold it last fall for $50. I regret it to this day, I wish I would have upgraded the fork and turned it into a single speed.

Something like that is a great bike for what most of you guys sound like you want to do.

For some reason people think their old ass bikes are gold. If I see the word "Vintage" in a Craigslist title I don't even bother looking.

Last year I sold off the bulk of my 'vintage' collection, mostly British built bikes from the late 50's - early 70's. Had a couple super clean Schwinn Collegiates in the mix as well. No 'Crate' type bikes. Didn't price anything over $75- hell, most I had nothing invested in them. Sold 15 bikes in 12 hours. People is dumb.

Last year I sold off the bulk of my 'vintage' collection, mostly British built bikes from the late 50's - early 70's. Had a couple super clean Schwinn Collegiates in the mix as well. No 'Crate' type bikes. Didn't price anything over $75- hell, most I had nothing invested in them. Sold 15 bikes in 12 hours. People is dumb.

just a thought. if someone wants Crates I know a guy who has like 600 of them over by Ypsi. pm me if you are interested

That was my first "mountain bike" Exact same color scheme and everything. Paid $600 or $500 OTD, and rode that bike HARD for a number of years. I sold it last fall for $50. I regret it to this day, I wish I would have upgraded the fork and turned it into a single speed.

Something like that is a great bike for what most of you guys sound like you want to do.

Is that the same bike that I have $40 of my own money / parts invested? You damn jackass.

I think I'm kinda in the the sub $200 mindset. I'd like to try it out. If its something I get into I don't mind spending good money on a better one in the future.

Someone of your stature should stay away from bikes with cantilever brakes.

Seriously.

Think of "manual drum brakes" on a heavy car after driving through 12" of water, i.e. you won't be able to stop very well on that thing and may hurt yourself or others. Don't do it. Think of the children!

Someone of your stature should stay away from bikes with cantilever brakes.

Seriously.

Think of "manual drum brakes" on a heavy car after driving through 12" of water, i.e. you won't be able to stop very well on that thing and may hurt yourself or others. Don't do it. Think of the children!

Is that the same bike that I have $40 of my own money / parts invested? You damn jackass.

Yes, I sold it to a kid who was trying to find a bike so he could join the high school cycling team. He had posted up on mmba.org

At first I thought I was being all nice and charitable, but after never hearing back from the kid and knowing if he ever joined his high school mountain biking team like he and his dad had promised and gotten updates I'm just feeling like a sad panda.

Yes, I sold it to a kid who was trying to find a bike so he could join the high school cycling team. He had posted up on mmba.org

At first I thought I was being all nice and charitable, but after never hearing back from the kid and knowing if he ever joined his high school mountain biking team like he and his dad had promised and gotten updates I'm just feeling like a sad panda.

Dang. Trying to find a good bike for my soon to be 8-year old who is already 4'9". Everything that was good to better as a kid is now junk.

Thats why I kept my Mongoose from when I was a kid for my kids. Same with a '87 20" Schwinn that is mint. No point in paying $75 for a pile of crap at Walmart just so its new. I'm thinking about putting new tires on my mom's (mens bike) '75 Varsity. Rode very nice until the tires turned to dust...

I'm saying my low back is bad, and when I ride long distances or early in the season it fatigues quickly.

I find the more I ride, the less I feel this, and the more I strengthen the lower back muscles through other exercise the less I feel this also.

My point was to stop using the bad lower back as an excuse and go through the proper means to rehab the low back. Lose weight, stretch, strengthen, correct posture, etc.

I guess my only concern is when people say bad back they mean their back hurts from time to time. I don't want to see Mike trying to do something to improve his health and it actually leads him to back surgery number 3.
I think he would need something that he isn't slouching over and can sit more upright. I do agree that he needs to strengthen his core and drop some weight but I don't want to see him crippled for almost a year again.

I guess my only concern is when people say bad back they mean their back hurts from time to time. I don't want to see Mike trying to do something to improve his health and it actually leads him to back surgery number 3.
I think he would need something that he isn't slouching over and can sit more upright. I do agree that he needs to strengthen his core and drop some weight but I don't want to see him crippled for almost a year again.